*Honghui's POV
Since we arrived in Xuzhou, I made sure Lady Liu was always accompanying me. I knew their family were having dealings with the bandits. The relationship between Han and Chu have been wavering.
I had received reports that it seemed Chu state was preparing for war. The ministers had proposed a marriage alliance between the two states to stop whatever trouble was brewing. This solution was temporary. Chu state could still attack if they wanted to.
The king of Chu was a heartless man. He cared not for his people nor his country. A man like that was not trustworthy. Xuzhou had always been guarded heavily. So the activity of bandits were surely suspicious. After the great war in the east, the country had enjoyed peace but it was fleeting.
Li juan had told me about the conversation between minister Liu and his daughter. This surely made things clearer for me. The so called bandits were remaining soldiers of Chu state. I was told they had retreated. It seems they won't dare go home and tell their king they lost the battle.
If they weren't taken care of now, they will surely cause trouble in the future. I and Li juan had been following lady liu. She had just entered a brothel.
"Really suspicious. Lady Liu is a girl. What is she doing in a brothel?" I thought.
I quickly followed her and saw that she entered a room. Signaling Li juan, I tell her to wait outside to deal with any incoming guard. Her kungfu may not be as good as before but she could surely handle the guards.
When I enter the room, nobody was there. I quickly check the room carefully. When I was about to leave. I feel a dart being pierced into my neck. Turning around, I see Lady Liu standing there. Taking my sword, I try to slice her but..... I can't move my hand.
"What! What did you do to me?" I ask feeling my body go numb.
"Your Majesty, I didn't do anything. I have been following you since you came to Xuzhou. Little did you know, I had already poisoned you. It wouldn't have worked without the second half of the poison." She said laughing.
"Lady Liu, so you and your father are traitors. You!! You have conspiring with Chu state" I said.
"Conspiring? How can I be conspiring with Chu state? I the imperial princess of Chu state for the sake of the country had to be raised here in Han. I left my beautiful home to be raised as a normal lady." She said.
" What?!! Lady Liu was the emperor of Chu State's sister? That means Minister Liu? He is from Chu?" I thought.
" As the sister of the emperor, I have responsibilities to serve the state. Leaving home at 12 just to live here. You are to blame!!!! " she said.
" I did nothing wrong. The emperor of Chu knew going to war was not to good idea. Yet he used up the nation's resources. Now, the nation of Chu is suffering from famine. He just sees everyone as a pawn to acquire more land. Imperial princess Chu, I believe you know this well." I said coughing.
"That's a lie! Brother is doing everything for the nation" She said.
"Princess, you have being living here in Han. Don't you want to return home? If you stop this now, I promise you will be able to go back to Chu. Later on, I will help you dethrone the king of Chu. If he remains on the throne, more people will suffer." I said.
"How can you possibly think you can dethrone Fengwu? His power in court is deeply rooted." She said.
"It is out of fear. Am sure you can win the people's heart." I said.
" Am a girl. I can't ascend the throne of Chu" she said.
" Who said a girl can't ascend the throne? You are the only royal descendant of the royal family of Chu remaining." I said.
"That will only be possible if am married. The court will never support me if am unmarried." She said.
" I will support you in a any way you need. Princess, I will help you ascend the throne and end the suffering in both kingdoms. If you put a stop to this madness, I will issue a decree of our marriage. You will the queen of Han. With this, you will have enough power to ascend the throne?" I said.
"You will marry me? For the sake of the kingdom?" She asked.
For the sake of the kingdom, I was going to do anything.